NFL creates anonymous bounty tip line

In order to prevent the imposition of bounties on players who complain about bounties, the NFL will create a vehicle for the anonymous reporting of the existence of bounties.

After Wednesday’s meeting between Commissioner Roger Goodell and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Goodell announced that a tip line will be created for anyone who wishes to let the league know about the existence of bounties, according to Ted Barrett of CNN.com

“We’ve taken very strong action to make sure they’re not part of sports going forward,” Goodell said. “And that the integrity of our game and the safety of our players is paramount. And that we’re going to take very aggressive steps to protect that.”

Goodell’s message did enough to persuade Durbin to scuttle a plan to conduct a full-blown hearing on bounties in pro sports.

“Unlike many issues that come before us, this issue was discovered by the NFL, the investigation was initiated by the NFL, and the actions that have been taken against coaches and players was taken by the NFL,” Durbin said.

“There was no denial of what happened. In fact, they aggressively pursued the information they were given. What more could I accomplish with a law? This is better; it’s much better. And it’s timely.”

And now perhaps we know why the league moved so aggressively against the Saints coaches and the players. The NFL knew that it needed to create the impression that swift and decisive action was being taken, even if the evidence on which the effort to punish the players is based possibly contains very real flaws.

Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see whether the tip line is used to report actual bounty systems, or whether disgruntled players will embellish the facts in order to cause problems. If it’s truly anonymous, there will be no accountability whatsoever for making false charges. And false charges inevitably will be made.

Tip line???? That’s not gonna prevent the commissioner from being sued to hell by the players for defamation. Goddell had to take swift and immediate action to show the league that they were serious, but oops sorry, we really don’t have the evidence, yet. What the hell is going on here, you can’t make an example of a franchise, because you have a feeling something was going on, you can’t take away a man’s livelihood because you have a feeling, you need ironclad evidence, proof. I hope the NFL is hit hard in pocket book by these lawsuits. Any fan that finds this behavior by Goddell acceptable needs therapy. Regardless of your team preference.

We need to find another fav sport because the NFL we grew up with and fell in love with is finished thanks to this buffoon Godell. I loathe this guy so much. And i thought Bud Selig was the worst commish of pro sports…

Oh oh, Goodell is such a swell guy looking out for everyone’s safety. He really created a safety villain and punished it severely. It’s all about that meany bounty system. Yeah, you can stop the lawsuits now.

So the NFL knew of the bounty system since 2010, and the “Bounty Hotline” is just being established in 2012. I have to question if the motivation for this “Bounty Hotline” is just a PR move to recover from this embarrassing bounty investigation.

The second ranking Democrat in the U.S. Senate wants to launch a congressional inquiry into the NFL. Goodell meets with the Senator. As a direct result of his meeting with Goodell, the inquiry is cancelled.

Goodell’s actions satisfy a high level Senator, but the hotline is too anonymous for the media. Go figure.

“If it’s truly anonymous, there will be no accountability whatsoever for making false charges. And false charges inevitably will be made.”
———————————————-

I can understand the need for anonymity in something like this, just because of how football is. Player X reports a bounty system and it’s known it’s him, who do you think will have the biggest bounty on him next game? Then there’s the stigma of being known as a ‘snitch’ by teammates.

Even if it’s not anonymous, false charges are made all the time. Just ask Brian Banks.

I’d bet my retirement fund that Goodell and Durbin are buddy-buddies on the side and set this whole dog and pony show up well in advance. It stinks to high heaven. This guy is so corrupt I can’t even look at his fat pink face anyway. He needs to go to prison for a while and think about what he’s done.

“Sen. Durbin (Sen. Dirtbag) is Illinois Liberral scum. The one who equated US servicemen with Nazis during the Iraq war.”
————

Liberal scum hey? So the alternative is George Bush bomb everyone with no evidence , god is great, the rich get richer, down with universal health care, big oil record profits, global warming etc…..oh man, sign me up for good old republicans any day. No wonder America is in the toilet.

“Thank you for calling the NFL Bounty tip hotline this is Roger Goodell. If this is about a Saints player press 1. If it is about a Saints coach press 2. If it is about Mickey Loomis press 3. All other callers call back later. Our offices are closed. Thank you.”

Did he really say “the safety of our players is paramount”? He is so full of it. IF (and that’s a big IF) he really had player safety in mind then the offensive players would be flagged as much as the defensive players for going into someone head first with the helmet. IF he had player safety in mind offensive players would not be able to stiff arm/facemask a defensive player.
Sorry Mr. Dictator Godhell, but the only thing you are interested in is making the all mighty dollar at whatever cost. Safety is truly not a concern of yours.

“And that the integrity of our game and the safety of our players is paramount. ” – Roger Goodell who then discussed how he wants to add two more games to the schedule. And maybe more teams in Europe. But again, safety is paramount to Greedy Goodell.

wow. obvioulsy this isn’t going to work. you will have players from team A calling anonymously to report bounties being used by team B, even if its not true. Belicheck will having his players do this every day.

the nfl knows this wont work. they are doing this simply to cover their butts in future lawsuits, which is wise.

Goodell and the league offices really don’t seem to know what they are doing or how to handle what is becoming a crisis. And they very well may be right, which makes it all that much worse. This may very well be less about the what but the how. How you can possibly have righteousness on your side and still not be able to control the narrative properly. I don’t particularly like the “everybody’s entitled to a personal explanation” world we live in today, but there is a reality where the media saturates every aspect of our lives, and especially Big Sports. They love the exposure when it removes $20’s from the fans’ pockets but it’s to suddenly supposed to be back rooms and teaspoons of information when there’s a problem? Certainly there’s sensitive information, but one would think that in general this whole thing could be much better handled. One would think this is exactly what a commissioner is supposed to do in promoting the well being of his sport. In the last few years there’s getting to be less and less payoff watching sports. It’s simply not worth it. If I wanted endless intrigue and back biting I’d spend more time at work and try and get even further ahead. This is supposed to be about leisure and take one away from their problems. This ain’t it.